An image processing apparatus connected to an external apparatus via a network includes an selecting unit for selecting an application mode and an image quality mode, a scanning unit for scanning an original document, a scanning correction unit for generating image data from the scanned document, a storage unit for storing the image data and the process mode information, a compression unit for compressing the image data, an extension unit for extending the compressed image data, a data format converting unit for converting a data format of the image data according to the application mode and the image quality mode, and a communication unit for communicating the image data with the external apparatus. The data format converting unit receives image data having a first data format, and outputs the image data having a second data format, wherein the first and second data format are either a data format dedicated to the image processing apparatus or a general data format.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An image processing apparatus connected to an external apparatus via a network, comprising: a selecting unit configured for selecting an application mode and an image quality mode; a scanning unit configured for scanning an original document to generate image signals; a scanning correction unit configured for generating image data by conducting a first predetermined image processing, according to the application mode and the image quality mode, to the image signals; a storage unit configured for storing the image data, the application mode and the image quality mode; a compression unit configured for compressing the image data when storing the image data to the storage unit; an extension unit configured for extending the compressed image data; a data format converting unit configured for converting a data format of the image data according to the application mode and the image quality mode; and a communication unit configured for communicating the image data with the external apparatus, wherein the application mode includes copy mode, scan mode, and facsimile mode, and the image quality mode includes character mode, character-photo mode, and photo mode.
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , the data format converting unit further comprising: a data extension unit configured for extending the compressed image data; an image processing unit configured for conducting a second predetermined image processing to the extended image data; and a data compression unit configured for compressing the extended image data.
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the data format converting unit receives image data having a first data format, and outputs the image data having a second data format.
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first data format is a data format of the image processing apparatus or a general data format.
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the second data format is a data format of the image processing apparatus or a general data format.
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , the data format converting unit further comprising a resolution converting unit configured for converting a resolution level of image data input to the data format converting unit.
7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , the data format converting unit further comprising a color-space conversion unit configured for converting a color space of image data, input to the data format converting unit, to another color space.
8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , the data format converting unit further comprising a monochrome converting unit configured for converting color image data, input to the data format converting unit, to monochrome image data.
9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , the data format converting unit further comprising a spot noise elimination unit configured for conducting a spot noise elimination process to image data input to the data format converting unit.
10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , the data format converting unit further comprising a filtering unit configured for conducting a predetermined filtering process to image data input to the data format.
11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , the data format converting unit further comprising a concentration gamma processing unit configured for conducting a predetermined concentration gamma processing to image data input to the data format converting unit.
12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , the data format converting unit further comprising a binary-format processing unit configured for converting multi-value image data, input to the data format converting unit, to binary-formatted image data.
13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the data format converting unit further processes the image data, input to the data format converting unit, according to the application mode and the image quality mode designated by the external apparatus and received by the data format converting unit via the communication unit.
14. An image processing apparatus connected to an external apparatus via a network, comprising: means for selecting an application mode and an image quality mode; means for scanning an original document to generate image signals; means for correcting the image signals to generate image data by conducting a first predetermined image processing according to the application mode and the image quality mode to the image signals; means for storing the image data and the application mode and the image quality mode; means for compressing the image data; means for extending the compressed image data; means for converting a data format of the image data according to the application mode and the image quality mode; and means for communicating the image data with the external apparatus, wherein the application mode includes copy mode, scan mode, and facsimile mode, and the image quality mode includes character mode, character-photo mode, and photo mode.
15. An image data generation and transmission method conducted in an image processing apparatus connected to an external apparatus via a network, comprising the steps of: selecting an application mode and an image quality mode; scanning an original document to generate image signals; correcting the image signals to obtain image data; storing the image data, the application mode and the image quality mode; converting an attribute of the image data according to the application mode and the image quality mode; and transmitting the image data converted in the converting step to the external apparatus.
16. The image data generation and transmission method according to claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: requesting, by the external apparatus, an acquisition of the image data; and designating the application mode and the image quality mode, by the external apparatus, for the requested image data.
17. The image data generation and transmission method according to claim 16 , wherein the converting step converts an attribute of the image data stored in the storing step according to the application mode and the image quality mode designated by the external apparatus in the designating step.
18. The image data generation and transmission method according to claim 15 , further comprising the step of compressing the image data.
19. The image data generation and transmission method according to claim 15 , wherein the converting step further comprises the steps of: extending the image data, performing image processing on the image data, and compressing the image data.
20. The image data generation and transmission method according to claim 15 , wherein the converting step further comprises the steps of: receiving image data having a first data format; and outputting the image data having a second data format.
21. The image data generation and transmission method according to claim 20 , wherein the first data format includes a data format dedicated to the image processing apparatus and a general data format.
22. The image data generation and transmission method according to claim 20 , wherein the second data format includes a data format dedicated to the image processing apparatus and a general data format.
23. The image data generation and transmission method according to claim 15 , wherein the converting step converts an attribute of the image data stored in the storing step according to the application mode and the image quality mode selected in the selecting step.
24. The image data generation and transmission method according to claim 15 , wherein the converting step further comprises the steps of: extending compressed image data; altering a resolution of the extended image data; changing a color space of the altered image data to another color space; and compressing the image data of the another color space.
25. The image data generation and transmission method according to claim 15 , wherein the converting step further comprising the steps of: extending compressed image data; altering a resolution of the extended image data; changing the resolution altered image data to monochrome image data; eliminating a spot noise from the monochrome image data; filtering the monochrome image data; gamma-processing the monochrome image data; binary-formatting the monochrome image data; and compressing the binary-formatted monochrome image data.
26. A computer-readable medium storing a image data generation and transmission program comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer of an image processing apparatus connected to an external apparatus via a network, instruct the image processing apparatus to carry out a method of generating and transmitting image data comprising the steps of: selecting an application mode and an image quality mode; correcting at least one image signal to obtain image data; converting an attribute of the image data according to the application mode and the image quality mode selected in the selecting step; and transmitting the image data converted in the converting step to the external apparatus.
27. The computer-readable medium storing the image data generation and transmission program according to the claim 26 , the image data generation and transmission program further comprising the steps of: requesting, by the external apparatus, an acquisition of the image data; and designating the application mode and the image quality mode for the requested image data.
28. The computer-readable medium storing the image data generation and transmission program according to the claim 26 , wherein the image data generation and transmission program further causes the image processing apparatus to store the computer-readable instructions in a computer-readable medium provided in the image processing apparatus.
29. The computer-readable medium storing the image data generation and transmission program according to the claim 26 , the image data generation and transmission program further comprising downloading the computer-readable instructions from the network.
30. A computer-readable medium storing an image data generation and transmission program comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer of an image forming apparatus connected to an external apparatus via a network, instruct the image forming apparatus to carry out a method of image data generating and transmitting, the image data generation and transmission program comprising the steps of: selecting an application mode and an image quality mode; scanning an original document to generate image signals; correcting the image signals to obtain image data; storing the image data, the application mode and the image quality mode; converting an attribute of the image data according to the application mode and the image quality mode; and transmitting the image data converted in the converting step to the external apparatus.
31. The computer-readable medium storing the image data generation and transmission program according to claim 30 , the image data generation and transmission program further comprising the steps of: requesting by the external apparatus, an acquisition of the image data; and designating, by the external apparatus, the application mode and the image quality mode for the requested image data.
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March 18, 2005
June 23, 2009
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